HABITAT USE BY GREATER SANDHILL CRANES IN WYOMING

Authors

Mary M. Rowland, University of Wyoming
Lynn Kinter, Wyoming Game and Fish Department
Tim Banks, Wyoming Game and Fish Department
David C. Lockman, Wyoming Game and Fish Department

Date of this Version

1992

Document Type

Article

Citation

Rowland, M.M., L. Kinter, T.Banks, and D.C. Lockman. Habitat use by greater sandhill cranes in Wyoming. In: Wood D. A., ed. 1992. Proceedings 1988 North American Crane Workshop, Feb. 22–24, 1988. Lake Wales, Florida (Tallahassee, FL: State of Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission Nongame Wildlife Program Technical Report #12, 1992), pp. 82-86.

Comments

Used by permission of the North American Crane Working Group.

Abstract

Wyoming suppors approximately 20% of the Rocky Mountain population (RMP) of greater sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis tabida), as well as a number of whooping cranes (Grus americana) from the Grays Lake, Idaho flock. Cranes begin arriving on post-migration staging areas in Wyoming in mid-March and disperse to summer habitat in April or May, depending on snow cover. Fall pre-migration, staging peaks around mid-September; most cranes leave the state by 1 October. Wet meadows and gram fIelds were the major habitat types used by cranes in Wyoming 1985-1987. Use in these types ranged from 69- 100% of total observations in any given 2-week period. Important grains included barley, wheat and oats. Wet meadows were typically either seasonally flooded wetlands or flood-irrigated haylands. Alfalfa fields and cattailbulrush (Typha sp./Scirpus sp.) marshes were also important habitats for cranes.